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As a student, you'll be familiar with the formal register. Your lessons, presentations, and lectures are most likely delivered by your teacher in the formal register (at least for the most part), as it is often associated with written language, and academic and professional settings.
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Jetzt kostenlos anmeldenAs a student, you'll be familiar with the formal register. Your lessons, presentations, and lectures are most likely delivered by your teacher in the formal register (at least for the most part), as it is often associated with written language, and academic and professional settings.
People who work in customer service often use the formal register when addressing clients.
The formal register is just one of the registers we use daily. So, what are the other kinds of registers?
There are six main types of language register:
To begin, let's look at the meaning of 'formal register'.
As the 'Do-Re-Mi' song from The Sound of Music1 states, 'the beginning is a very good place to start', so let's start with a definition!
First of all, what exactly is a register?
Register, in linguistics, refers to a variety or type of language used for a particular purpose in a particular type of communicative interaction.
What, then, is the formal register?
Formal is an adjective that refers to anything that is important or official, or carried out in a manner that follows convention.
This means that the formal register refers to the variety of language used in important, official, or ceremonial situations where proceedings are dictated by particular etiquette or rules.
Now that we have the definition of 'formal register' under our belts, let's take a closer look at the characteristics of the formal register that we can identify in communication.
generally somewhat impersonal and unemotional
uses complete sentences, complex or longer sentence structures, and standard grammar
most commonly uses Standard English (e.g., standard British English or standard varieties of other languages, depending on the country, e.g. Standard French)
makes use of extended or complex vocabulary
limited use of personal pronouns
avoids using pet names and terms of endearment
avoids contractions and abbreviations
avoids idioms and metaphorical language
generally avoids imperative sentences
avoids colloquialisms, slang words, swearing, and vulgarities
used in formal, official, or ceremonial situations, or situations that follow conventions of some kind
Colloquialisms - informal and non-standard parts of speech usually used in spoken, not written, language.
How do you know when to use the formal register?
If you're struggling to know when to use the formal register, your audience is one of your most helpful hints! For example, if you're having a chat, or even a more serious discussion, with a friend or close family member, it is unlikely that you'll need to use the formal register.
When we talk to people we know well, are close to, and feel comfortable around, we seldom need to use the formal register. Even when having important discussions or debates, it's more likely that we will use some informal language and language features rather than carefully constructing complex sentences and making sure our language is impersonal and standard.
On the other hand, when we speak to authority figures, employers, teachers, and other professionals, the formal register might feel more natural than more casual speech. Using the formal register in conversation with authority figures and professionals shows respect and will likely match the manner in which they are speaking to you.
Oftentimes, the place in which a situation occurs will have a significant impact on the situation itself. There are some places where the formal register is not only appropriate, but expected. For example, in court, both lawyers and witnesses are expected to use formal and factual language. It is not appropriate for people to swear or use unnecessary colloquialisms.
There are many places and situations where the formal register is used as standard. Some other examples could include:
offices and corporate spaces
business meetings and presentations
academic lectures and presentations
hospitals
The reason behind the communicative interaction is a very important factor in determining what register to use.
If the purpose of the conversation or communication is simply to share information or catch up with a loved one or friend, then the formal register is not needed. Asking small favours of people, whether you know them well or not, does not generally require the formal register. For example, when asking a stranger on a train if they have the time, it is not necessary for you to use complicated sentences or even standard English; you could quite easily do this in the casual register.
If the purpose of the communication is to discuss a serious or official matter, ask for guidance or clarification on something, or to complain about something formally. In that case, the formal register might be more appropriate. Business-related communications, legal and accounting procedures, and academic situations also commonly call for the formal register.
Business meetings are another example of when the formal register is appropriate.
Now that we've covered the main features of the formal register, and the factors that determine when it should be used, let's look at some examples of these situations:
The Queen's annual Christmas Address is an example of a public figure/ authority figure using the formal register to communicate to an audience. Here is an excerpt from her 2021 Christmas Speech:2
And February, just six weeks from now, will see the start of my Platinum Jubilee year, which, I hope, will be an opportunity for people everywhere to enjoy a sense of togetherness; a chance to give thanks for the enormous changes of the last seventy years – social, scientific and cultural – and also to look ahead with confidence.
Queen Elizabeth, 2021
Some other examples of when the formal register might be used include:
when writing letters of complaint
when writing letters of recommendation/ references
when sending emails or memos in a corporate or professional environment
during court proceedings and other legal procedures
during wedding ceremonies and vow renewal ceremonies
Can you think of any situations where you might have used the formal register? See how many examples you can think of. If you can't personally think of any examples, try thinking up some other potential scenarios where the formal register might be necessary or appropriate.
No matter what the English Language topic, examples can help to consolidate our understanding. On that note, here are some examples of the formal register in verbal communication:
Officiant: 'Welcome everyone. We are gathered here today to witness the joining of John Smith and Sally Jones in holy matrimony. If anyone knows any reason why these two people should not be legally wed, please speak now.'
...
Officiant: 'Very well. We will now continue with the vows. John, repeat after me "I, John Smith, take you, Sally Jones, to be my wife."
John Smith: 'I, John Smith, take you, Sally Jones, to be my wife.'
(and so it goes on!)
Wedding ceremonies are a prime example of the formal register being used in verbal communication for several reasons. Firstly, the language used by both the officiant and the couple getting married is generally formal in nature, avoiding colloquialisms, contractions, and abbreviations. Secondly, wedding ceremonies are exactly that: ceremonies. They therefore follow specific conventions, which is another common characteristic of the formal register. Standard English (or a standard version of another language) and complete sentences are also used, rather than more casual language varieties and short sentences.
Another example:
Customer: 'Good afternoon, would it be possible to speak to the hotel manager, please?'
Receptionist: 'Good afternoon, Sir. Of course. I am going to put you on hold for just one moment, is that alright with you?'
Customer: 'Yes, that's fine.'
Receptionist: 'Ok great. The next voice you hear will be the manager. Thank you for your patience, and have a good day.'
In this example, the formal register is shown in how both participants use formal greetings such as 'Good afternoon', and 'have a good day', as well as the receptionist using the formal title 'Sir' to refer to the customer. Both participants are polite without being overly personal, and standard grammar and language choices are used throughout the exchange. Neither participant uses slang, colloquialisms, idioms, or contractions during the conversation either.
Now let's look at some examples of the formal register in writing:
Emails to one's boss or teacher are often written in the formal register:
'Dear Mr. James,
I have attached a draft of the contract for the Burley Manor account for your consideration. I have yet to send a copy to the client, pending your final approval. If all appears to be in order, please send me a confirmation email and I will forward the document to the client for review.
I would also like to arrange a time to meet with you in person to discuss another account. If you could let me know your availability at your earliest convenience, that would be greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Susan Hart
Legal Department
In this email example, we see that Susan has used the formal greetings of 'Dear Mr. James' and 'Kind Regards', and has kept the tone of the email professional and direct throughout. There is no overly descriptive language, no metaphorical references, and no slang. The sentences have been carefully constructed, and she has used Standard English and grammar too. There is no mention of personal matters, and Susan does not use any language that suggests she has a familiar or casual relationship with Mr. James. Business-related correspondence is often carried out using the formal register.
Academic essays are also typically written using the formal register:
Many different written documents use the formal register, including academic essays and contracts.
Mental Illness in Modern Literature, and the Limitations of Medical Discourse
Mental health is an issue that is widely addressed in literature, and particularly in modern literature. Writers have handled mental health in a variety of forms including the short story (The Yellow Wallpaper), the novel (The Bell Jar), poetry (The Wasteland), plays (Edward Albee, Samuel Beckett), and auto/biography (Prozac Nation). This essay will explore these forms, the methods that writers use to portray mental illness effectively, and the ways in which medical discourse often fails to account for 'the self' when making diagnoses.
...
In this opening paragraph to an academic essay, we see that informal language is avoided, as are idiomatic language, contractions, and abbreviations. The sentences use standard grammar and have a range of lengths and compositions, showing that they have been purposefully constructed. The writing style is impersonal, and the vocabulary choices stick closely to the topic being discussed. Casual language, non-standard grammar, and overly descriptive passages would not be appropriate in most forms of academic essays.
An example of the formal register in writing could be something like:
Some examples of the formal register in verbal communication could be:
The formal register is one of the six language registers that are used to determine how language should be used in particular situations. The formal register is used in professional, official, or important situations, or situations with ceremonial or etiquette-based conventions.
These are some language features you should avoid when using the formal register:
The formal register in communication is a variety of language used in formal, official, or academic/professional settings. One would not use the formal register when chatting to friends or family.
Flashcards in Formal Register20
Start learningWhat does 'formal' mean?
'Formal' refers to anything that is important or official, or carried out in a manner that follows convention.
What is a register in linguistics?
A variety or type of language used for a particular purpose in a particular type of communicative interaction.
True or false, the formal register can be used in both written and verbal communication.
True
List three characteristics of the formal register.
Any from this list:
generally fairly impersonal and unemotional
uses full sentences, complex or longer sentence structures, and standard grammar
most commonly uses Standard English
makes use of extended or complex vocabulary
limited use of personal pronouns
avoids using pet names and terms of endearment
avoids contractions and abbreviations
avoids idioms and metaphorical language
generally avoids imperative sentences
avoids colloquialisms, slang words, swearing, and vulgarities
used in formal, official, or ceremonial situations
Is the formal register generally personal or impersonal in tone?
Impersonal
What are the three factors you can look at to determine whether the formal register is appropriate or not?
Audience, place, and purpose
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